S. Sudan’s FM Visit: Turning the Page on Tensions and Opening Avenues for Cooperation

Sudanhorizon – Maryam Abshar

South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mandy Samia Kamba, concluded an official three-day visit to Port Sudan, the temporary capital, at a critical time. The visit came at the invitation of Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohieldin Salem, and included a series of high-level meetings with senior federal officials, bilateral talks with several ministers, and culminated in a joint consultation session.

High-Level Meetings

Upon his arrival in Port Sudan, Minister Mandy Samba immediately engaged in a series of meetings with top state officials, most notably Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and his deputy Malik Agar, separately.
He delivered to Al-Burhan a message from President Salva Kiir concerning the path of bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them across various fields.

Deputy Chairman Malik Agar, during his meeting with Samba, reaffirmed Sudan’s firm commitment to advancing bilateral relations with South Sudan and expanding the horizons of joint cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and border security sectors — in ways that reinforce the shared interests of both peoples.

Minister Samba also met with Prime Minister Kamel Idris, to whom he extended an invitation—on behalf of his government—to visit South Sudan. In response, Idris affirmed the Sudanese civil government’s support for all cooperation agreements previously signed between the two countries.

Activating Cooperation

During the joint bilateral talks chaired by the two foreign ministers, both sides agreed to activate political and security cooperation and encourage investment. They also agreed to open banking channels to facilitate and protect the interests of businesspeople in both countries and to regulate movement across the shared borders.

Advancing Key Files

In additional meetings involving the Minister of Interior, Minister of Energy, and Director General of the General Intelligence Service, the two sides agreed to safeguard the interests of citizens of both nations and to address challenges facing the oil and energy sectors.
They also agreed to exchange expertise and consultations, strengthen capacities, increase production, and protect oil fields and pumping stations. The discussions further covered security challenges confronting both countries and the situation of each nation’s citizens residing in the other.

Joint Statement

In the final communiqué issued at the conclusion of the visit, both sides affirmed their commitment to deepening and enhancing the historic ties between the two nations in service of their peoples.

They also agreed to exchange bilateral and technical visits, beginning with visits to Juba by Sudanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Oil, and Interior, followed by a return visit to Khartoum by South Sudan’s Vice President for Economic Affairs and Minister of Trade and Industry.

The two parties further agreed to activate mechanisms for political consultation between their foreign ministries and to establish a joint economic committee to enhance cooperation in all economic fields and support the private sector.
They emphasized the facilitation of trade between the two nations — including the potential allocation of a free trade zone at Port Sudan for the benefit of South Sudan — and agreed to coordinate in regional and international forums to work toward a better future for both peoples.

A Critical Juncture

Minister Mandy Samia’s visit came at a time when both nations are in dire need of easing tensions amid ongoing regional security instability, particularly given the war waged by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against Sudan — a war supported by foreign logistical and technical backing aimed at destroying Sudan’s infrastructure and weakening its people.

Reports and documents have also indicated the involvement of mercenaries from neighboring countries, including South Sudan, in the conflict, some of whom joined RSF ranks and participated in looting and theft targeting Sudanese citizens’ property.

Observers believe that the visit could play a significant role in reviving sensitive bilateral issues and addressing them directly. They note that closer security coordination between the two nations could help tighten border controls and curb the movement of rogue South Sudanese elements who have contributed—alongside the RSF—to the devastation of Sudan’s infrastructure.

A Major Mistake

An African affairs expert told Sudanhorizon that the former Salvation Government (Ingaz) made a grave mistake after South Sudan’s secession by granting South Sudanese nationals the “Four Freedoms” — freedom of movement, residence, ownership, and employment — equal to Sudanese citizens.

He said this policy backfired, as Sudan paid a heavy price when the RSF war broke out, leading to widespread theft, destruction, and damage to homes and infrastructure, much of it carried out by mercenaries from South Sudan fighting alongside the RSF.

The diplomat added that this visit could mark the beginning of a corrective path in bilateral relations — one focused on halting all forms of support or facilitation provided to the rebel RSF militia through South Sudan.

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